INTRODUCTION TO SPEAKING CHINESE
What does it mean to “learn Chinese”? We must clarify this since Chinese people speak a large number of different Chinese dialects! I asked my Shanghai friend how many dialects actually exist. She was not sure but guessed there are at least 60. There are Mandarin, Canton, Shanghai, Sichuan (Szechwan), Hunan, and Suzhou dialects to name just a few. Essentially, each dialect is a language in and of itself. Two Chinese people speaking their own local dialects may not be able to understand each other. It is even possible these two people live in neighboring cities.
The national language of China is Mandarin or “putonghua”. When most people refer to “speaking Chinese”, they are referring to Mandarin Chinese. Chinese people typically speak at least two languages, their local dialect and Mandarin Chinese, which is taught in school. Even though spoken language varies regionally, all Chinese use the same character based written language. This is why Chinese movies and TV programs use Chinese character subtitles. If a person does not understand the spoken dialect, they can understand the subtitles.
What can you expect from this section of our website? Obviously, in such a short time and small space you cannot become fluent in Mandarin. However, we hope to give you a basic 
understanding of the language, assist you with pronunciation and teach you a few words and phrases. After reviewing this section, maybe you will be enthusiastic enough to continue your studies. One of the most rewarding aspects of being in China is to converse with a Chinese person in Chinese, even if just a little. It will give both you and the person you are talking with a real kick.
Consider this section a basic introduction to Mandarin Chinese. To learn Chinese, we recommend you find a good teacher early to help you with the pinyin spelling and pronunciation system. With a good base, you can later use a multi-channel learning approach: a teacher, interactive computer software, tapes, books, classes and so on. If you are more fortunate, study Mandarin in school. Eventually, plan to learn Chinese characters since this will facilitate your spoken language ability and enhance your abilities.
To start, first view the Pronunciation Guide. Then you can study basic words and phrases related to topics that interest you. All links related to Speaking 101 may be found in the left margin of this page.
PS: We humbly apologize to language scholars for our rough, though hopefully useful, language reference.
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